Extended winter could lead to more Prairie oat acres

Extended winter could lead to more Prairie oat acres

CNS Canada — With winter still hanging on across Western Canada, one buyer thinks it could lead to an uptick in oat acres. “Later seeding generally increases oat acres. We’d rather see them seeded earlier but farmers have had a tendency when things get late (to) throw some more acres into oats,” said Scott Shiels […] Read more

(Photo courtesy United Soybean Board)

Frost damage to soybeans depends on crop stage

Frost damage to soybeans depends on the stage of the soybeans and how cold it gets and for how long, according to a pulse crops extension specialist. Frost is possible Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning in parts of Manitoba. Soybean growth stage is determined by examining the pods, Terry Buss of Manitoba Agriculture at Beausejour […] Read more

Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Harvest weather outlook offers reasons to cheer

CNS Canada — Farmers on the Prairies can expect decent weather for this harvest season, according to Drew Lerner, meteorologist and founder of World Weather Inc. Most farmers will experience periodic showers, he said, but shouldn’t be subjected to the continual drizzles and sheets of rain that caused heartaches last year. “Most of the Prairies […] Read more

New growth on a canola plant following a frost indicates the seedling has survived. (Canola Council of Canada photo)

Take time to judge frost damage on canola

After temperatures Thursday dropped as low as -5 C in parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, growers who’ve already seeded may be wondering whether emerging canola plants have survived. It’s best not to write off those seedlings right away, according to the Canola Council of Canada in a Canola Watch newsletter on Friday. It can take […] Read more

Canola at the cotyledon stage. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Prairie canola weathers early frost test

CNS Canada –– Despite freezing temperatures in some parts of Western Canada over the past few days, canola appears to be relatively healthy, according to crop watchers. While the true extent of freezing mornings that started last Thursday and stretched into the weekend isn’t yet completely known, two agronomy specialists from the Canola Council of […] Read more


(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Saskatchewan wheat crop enters crucial phase

CNS Canada –– Freezing temperatures are raising tensions for wheat growers in Saskatchewan as this year’s crop looks to survive a late blast of winter weather. The mercury dipped below 0 C in Saskatchewan on Thursday morning and Friday morning. Speaking Thursday afternoon, a regional crop specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, Shannon Friesen, […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola’s fate rests on fund buying

CNS Canada — ICE Futures Canada canola contracts moved higher during the week ended Wednesday, following strength in CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade) soybeans, but one analyst says it could be hard for the market to hold onto those advances. CBOT soybeans rallied Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released bullish supply and demand […] Read more

Canola at the cotyledon stage. (Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola to get early test as Prairies brace for frost

CNS Canada — Overnight lows of -2 or -3 C are expected across much of Saskatchewan by Wednesday or Thursday, according to Environment Canada forecasts. The colder temperatures are expected to make their way into Manitoba by Friday. That could put some stress on canola plants that have already emerged, according to industry watchers. “As […] Read more


Brown mustard. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Frost takes greater toll on mustard crops than dryness

CNS Canada — Freezing temperatures at the end of May took a toll on Saskatchewan’s mustard crops, industry specialists say. Walter Dyck, seed division manager for Olds Products, said many growers have reduced acreage this year. “We had early seeding, but the frost — not just one frost, but many frosts had an impact this […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Questions abound ahead of StatsCan acreage report

CNS Canada — Statistics Canada will release its updated acreage estimates for the year on Tuesday, but the timing of the survey could lead to more questions and second-guessing than normal given the likely adjustments and yield losses over the past month. The survey was conducted before a drought took hold in Alberta and Saskatchewan, […] Read more